MoneyActive

The MoneyActive project, funded by Nationwide Building Society, developed financial capability volunteering in local Citizens Advice over three years from 2009-2012.

The MoneyActive project met and exceeded targets:

1,700 volunteers involved in the project

57,300 end users and frontline workers trained in group sessions

6,300 people attended one-to one sessions

204,900 reached by the project overall

1,230 partner organisations supported

One third of volunteers leaving the project have moved into employment, education or training

4.4 million visits to money management information available to everyone through the Citizens Advice on-line resources.

Training by volunteers

One hundred and forty local offices across England and Wales recruited and trained over 1,700 MoneyActive volunteers. MoneyActive volunteers delivered training to individuals and groups on topics such as the real cost of credit and starting to save. The recruitment of volunteers through the MoneyActive project has significantly boosted the capacity of local Citizens Advice to embark on and expand their financial capability work. Volunteers also gained skills and confidence from being involved in the programme.

Improving money confidence

An independent evaluation [ 0.51 mb] has shown that people taking part in MoneyActive sessions were more confident at managing their money after the training. Sixty five per cent of people taking part said they felt fairly or very confident about managing their money after the training, compared to just 37 per cent before the training.

Spreading money know-how

As well as directly training people in the community MoneyActive has built on the strong relationships that local Citizens Advice have with many local organisations as volunteers deliver money management sessions to their frontline workers. It has also enabled local offices to develop new partnerships and extend their reach into new groups, making communities more aware of the services offered.

Once frontline workers have received money know-how training they can spread their knowledge and are better equipped to help their clients.